The single costate, complanate leaves with stellate median cells, and short attenuate propaguliferous branch tips are diagnostic. Sporophytes are exceptionally rare, the primary mode of reproduction and dispersion is asexual via gemmae. The relationship of this taxon within the Hookeriales is currently contested by several workers; see comments and references under the Pilotrichaceae. Adelothecium was previously placed in the Hookeriaceae, and later in its own family, the Adelotheciaceae (cf. Buck et al. 2005). Alexander Lindig was the first to collect Adelothecium in 1860 from what today are the suburbs of Bogotá, Colombia.